Fantasy Football: Matchups to avoid and exploit in Week 11

This week, we look to Tampa Bay to exploit Miami's defense, plus a few more matchups to watch.

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT

Buccaneers (at Dolphins)

The Dolphins have ruined primetime football, as their “defense” has surrendered a combined 112 points in — as you might’ve guessed — three consecutive losses. Clearly rookie coordinator Matt Burke’s unit isn’t ready for primetime, and there’s little reason to believe they’re ready for the Bucs at noon either. Led by Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa got off the schneid vs. the Jets by basically being less awful than Gang Green. But against a run ‘D’ that put Alex Collins on the map, then picked Marshawn Lynch and Jonathan Stewart up off the mat, Doug Martin’s rebound awaits. And Cameron Brate — even more disappointing than Martin the past two games —should become the fifth consecutive TE1 finisher vs. the ‘Phins.

Must start: Mike Evans, Doug Martin, Cameron Brate

Solid play: DeSean Jackson

Worth a look: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chris Godwin, Bucs D/ST

Giants (vs. Chiefs)

They’re easy targets, but just as Jay Cutler isn’t Miami’s biggest problem, Eli Manning isn’t high on the Giants’ long list of issues. In fact, Manning played one of his better games in San Francisco and should stack strong outings vs. a Chiefs ‘D’ whose secondary is ripe for picking on (No 32 vs. fantasy wideouts, No. 27 vs. QBs). Sterling Shepard is WR14 over the past two weeks, and Evan Engram paces all tight ends over that span and is TE3 over the past month. This one has shootout potential with both defenses reeling, and although owners may have to live with a giveaway or two from Manning, he’ll produce with Shepard, Engram and surging RB Orleans Darkwa.

Must start: Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard

Solid play: Orleans Darkwa, Eli Manning

Worth a look: Roger Lewis

Steelers (vs. Titans)

Ben Roethlisberger called “Thursday Night Football” “miserable” and “terrible,” making him like the majority of players who despise playing on three days rest. But Big Ben has been better than the majority of his peers on Thursdays, with a 100.4 rating and 16:6 TD-to-INT ratio. Andy Dalton struggled and still threw two touchdowns vs. the Titans last week, whose defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau, reunites with his old club for the first time. The Titans have allowed more receiving touchdowns (12) than every team but the Chiefs, and after playing more than 50 percent of the snaps and making a key third-down conversion of 19 yards on Pittsburgh’s game-winning drive — part of his 3-42 receiving — Martavis Bryant reenters WR3 consideration.

Must start: Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster

Solid play: Steelers D/ST

Worth a look: Martavis Bryant

Saints (vs. Washington)

The NFL’s most dynamic ground game was utterly dominant in Buffalo, but don’t be surprised when Drew Brees reminds us all Sunday that he can still be a fantasy force. Washington was undressed for nearly three quarters by Case Keenum (4 TDs, 304 passing yards) — one week after Russell Wilson tossed two fourth-quarter scores and only three weeks removed from Carson Wentz’s four-TD barrage. Ted Ginn should get going again after a throwaway game in Buffalo against a secondary whose 41 explosives surrendered are among the league high. Even Josh Hill, one week after fumbling in an otherwise perfect Saints day offensively, has streaming appeal.

Must start: Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara

Solid play: Ted Ginn

Worth a look: Brandon Coleman, Josh Hill

MATCHUPS TO AVOID

Jaguars (at Browns)

Why Blake Bortles was asked to throw 29 times in a one-score game after intermission Sunday, we’ll never know. But Doug Marrone and Nate Hackett deserve as much blame for their quarterback nearly giving it away with two late interceptions as Bortles. Fast-forward to Sunday, and it’s easy to envision pass-happy Bortles resurfacing vs. a Browns club that is very good on the ground but vulnerable through the air. Without Allen Hurns, and with Dede Westbrook’s status up in the air, Jacksonville will have even fewer options for Bortles. It should shape up as a Leonard Fournette script — just like the second half last week — when the rookie was curiously put on ice in his first NFL game without a touchdown and just second without at least 20 touches.

Must start: Leonard Fournette, Jaguars D/ST

Solid play: Marqise Lee

Worth a look: Marcedes Lewis, T.J. Yeldon

Last resort: Chris Ivory

Bills (at Chargers)

Keep an eye on the status of Philip Rivers (concussion), as Kellen Clemens making his first start since 2013 would give Buffalo’s fantasy outlook some additional juice. Suffice to say, it could use it. Tyrod Taylor and rookie Nate Peterman, who mopped up the mess left by Taylor and Buffalo’s run ‘D’ Sunday vs. New Orleans, combined for 4.8 yards per attempt. Peterman will get the start. LeSean McCoy was an afterthought in a blowout — which makes more sense than Kelvin Benjamin attracting zero targets after the first series despite playing 85 percent of the snaps in his Bills debut. Aside from McCoy, Buffalo’s a hard pass against a ‘D’ ranked second vs. fantasy tight ends and has permitted two touchdowns to receivers in the past four games combined.

They’re mired in a five-game losing streak in which the Broncos have averaged less than 14 points per game. Demaryius Thomas has scored in two straight — the switch to Brock Osweiler agrees with at least one Bronco — but the backfield is officially a committee running behind a bad offensive line; Osweiler is averaging 6.0 yards per attempt (respectable by his standards) as the starter; the special teams are costing Denver precious possessions; and the Bengals are ninth in sack percentage, fifth in passing yards allowed and seem unlikely to get Osweiler’ed again after he tallied 299 passing yards and a 100.3 rating in their last meeting.

Solid play: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos D/ST

Last resort: Denver RBs

Ravens at Packers

The Ravens should be healthier coming off the bye with Danny Woodhead, Michael Campanaro and Nick Boyle rejoining the NFL’s worst passing offense. However, Joe Flacco hasn’t resembled the deep-ball thrower we’ve seen in the past who’s needed to challenge a Packers secondary allowing 7.9 yards per attempt. Green Bay, meantime, has fared well in the past month vs. rushing attacks other than New Orleans, and young QB Brett Hundley is protecting the football — the two areas where Baltimore has done its best work. Rookie CB Kevin King is coming on and should battle Jeremy Maclin, Baltimore’s leader, modestly, in receiving yards (310) and touchdowns (3).